How You Can Become a Teacher Without a Degree in Education

There are plenty of ways to become a teacher when you have the right education and experience, but did you know that you can actually become a teacher without having a teaching degree?

There are a number of ways that you can still pursue a teaching career regardless of the degree you have or even with no higher education at all.

Below, we let you know how to become a teacher without a teaching degree, what facilities and schools you can work at regardless of your education, and what positions you can take on as an educator with different levels of education and certification.

Ways You Can Become a Teacher Without a Teaching Degree

From starting at the bottom rung of the education field, where requirements are lower, to working at a private school where there are no hiring restrictions, here is how you can become a teacher without a teaching degree.

If you already have a bachelor's, master's, or other graduate higher education degree, here's what you can do to become a teacher without a degree in education.

Have a Bachelor's Degree in a Related Field

The first step in how to become a teacher without a teaching degree is to have a bachelor's degree in a related subject that you can teach.

Science, math, English, history, and even a foreign language are subjects that you can teach if you have a degree in the subject but not a teaching degree.

Depending on the requirements in your state or whether you're working in public or private education, a bachelor's degree in the subject you want to teach is sometimes all you need to become a teacher successfully.

For example, teachers in North Carolina can apply for positions and be hired with a residency license if they have a 2.70 or higher GPA for their bachelor's degree and either 24 hours of experience in their subject area, a degree in their subject area, or completed Praxis/Pearson exams in their subject area.

However, many states still require some kind of teaching licensure and certification outside of a degree program, so below, you'll find out how to get your teaching licensure without a teaching degree.

Complete a Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Program

If a bachelor's degree in the subject you plan to teach in isn't sufficient by itself to get you a job as a teacher, you should strongly consider a post-baccalaureate teaching licensure program.

These programs are designed for aspiring teachers who have a bachelor's degree but not a teaching degree, so they can meet the requirements for certification and licensure in their state.

Almost every state offers these programs, and they can be completed much more quickly and at a lower cost than a full education degree, so this is a great alternative option to obtaining a teaching degree for any college graduate.

Pursue Work at a Private School

Private schools operate under a different set of rules compared to public schools, and that includes differences in the hiring requirements of each institution.

Because they're privately funded, private schools can set their own rules for who can attend or be employed by their institution.

Many private schools don't have the same education requirements for teachers or even need them to have a certificate or license to teach.

This means that by pursuing a job as a teacher at a private or church school, you can bypass many of the education requirements that you don't currently meet because you don't have a teaching degree or license.

Check the requirements of private schools, churches, and daycares requiring teachers in your area to see if you can meet their criteria without a teaching degree, and then start applying for positions that fit your needs and qualifications.

Pursue Alternative Employment Options

There are ways that you can become a teacher without a teaching degree or certification—you simply have to pursue a slightly different job within the education field.

Working as a substitute teacher, preschool teacher, or teaching assistant doesn't involve the same requirements as working as a public or even private school teacher.

Preschool teachers and teaching assistants only need to complete an associate degree or specific certification program in order to work, and substitutes don't need licensure, certification, or any higher education at all in some states.

With these options, you can still work in education without having a teaching degree or even having any higher education at all. If you want to know how to become a teacher without a teaching degree, these are great jobs to start with.

Use Your Current Education to Become a Teacher Today

Now that you know how to become a teacher without a teaching degree, as well as the different education positions you can pursue and what institutions you can work for, it's time to find out what teaching opportunities are in your area today so you can start making a difference in a child's education tomorrow.